West Country ‘village’ carols to sing out again

West Country ‘village’ carols to sing out again

Centuries-old ‘village’ folk carols that were once a local tradition across the South West are being revived – thanks to a Wren Music project that aims to ensure they’re never lost again. Before today’s Christmas carols became popular, communities would sing carols...

The Stories of Sidmouth – update

The Stories of Sidmouth – update

This week, we’ve started working with students at Sidmouth College to create new folk songs, based around the stories of Sidmouth we’ve collected in conversations with local people. The Stories of Sidmouth project is a collaboration with Sidmouth Folk Festival, to...

From Devon to Latvia – a sharing of living traditions

From Devon to Latvia – a sharing of living traditions

We were honoured to be invited to Latvia this autumn to be part of a three-day folk festival celebrating the folk tradition. The festival, Dzīvā Mūzika, is hosted by the Skaņumāja folk organisation, who Wren Music have had an association with for many years. Over the...

The folk carols of West Devon

The folk carols of West Devon

They were once sung out in the streets and on the farms around the remote towns and villages of West Devon and now, the ‘West Devon Carols’ are being revived by Wren Music so that they can be heard again. The West Devon Carols are distinct to the district and became...

A triumphant Apple Day in Okehampton

A triumphant Apple Day in Okehampton

On Thursday 26 October Amy and Jon hosted an afternoon of free activities to celebrate Apple Day 2023. Despite the forecast of heavy rain, the event was well attended by families who were keen to get stuck in to the different songs, games and tasks. We began with the...

New Street Band is launched for Okehampton

New Street Band is launched for Okehampton

Okehampton Lanterns is back for 2024 – and we’re excited to announce that the procession will be led by our brand new Street Band. Book your place here After a break this year, Okehampton Lanterns makes a welcome return to the town in February, following generous...

New: Sing & Play group for young families

New: Sing & Play group for young families

We are delighted to launch our new Sing & Play group for under-5s and their adults later this month, with the first weekly session on Friday 22 September, 10am -11.30am. Sing & Play is led by one of our professional singers and musicians, Paul Wilson,...

Okehampton Folk Trail tells the town’s ‘hidden’ history

Okehampton Folk Trail tells the town’s ‘hidden’ history

One of our most ambitious projects for 2023 hits the streets on Friday 22 September, when the Okehampton Folk Trail is launched. The 1.5-mile town trail is officially opened at 7pm that evening, and we are inviting local people to come along and walk the route with...

Bringing music and memories to residential homes

Bringing music and memories to residential homes

Throughout our 40 years, we’ve been delighted to bring song and conversation into residential homes across Devon. Our latest visit – to River’s Edge Retirement Apartments in Okehampton – had residents joining in with some of the songs, discussing local folklore, and...

Rousing finale to Songs of the Exmoor Forest project

Rousing finale to Songs of the Exmoor Forest project

Forty young people from three Exmoor primary schools came together for a concert at Simonsbath Festival – a rousing finale to a six-week project with Wren Music. The children from Exford First School, Cutcombe First School, and Timberscombe First School worked with...

Teaching a new generation of oral historians

Teaching a new generation of oral historians

Wren Music have been working with schoolchildren in Sidmouth as part of a project which will see a collection of new songs performed at the Sidmouth Folk Week in August. Our oral historian, Marilyn Tucker, spent two sessions with Year 3 and Year 4 children at Sidmouth...

We’ve launched our 40 for 40 challenge

We’ve launched our 40 for 40 challenge

Are you up for a challenge in 2023?   To mark our 40th anniversary this year, we are launching our '40 for 40’ challenge where we are asking our supporters to choose something with the theme of 40 which they can do to raise money for Wren Music. For inspiration,...